Thursday Thoughts: Cooking Small, Creativity and the Brain...

Things I'm drinkin' and thinkin' about this afternoon:

I've been going outside every day before or after the sun, embracing the shade in the heat. Today I decided I needed the sun and headed out for a good half an  hour of the real thing (I protect myself pretty well, but have serious vitamin D shortage and am blessed with skin that never burns or freckles. I dont do it every day and I do have a low to medium number suncreen but I need to get past hiding all in the shade).  

This morning I watched about four videos on how to do a specific quilting technique and have the fabric ready to experiment with tomorrow before I start my project. This was probably as big a brain challenge as taking a class or doing the New York Times or LA times puzzle (which I do weekly).  Hobbies stretch us, or at least me, and I don't just mean the crafty ones. For most of us, if we find a hobby we like, eventually we try and take it to another level. And then another. My sister is a great baker and each week she tries a different pie or tart in the cast iron pan she got for Christmas (more of them lemon than not thanks to me). While I wasn't paying attention fully, I did hear how she now has a new way to do the crust and is researching that and then it will be onto something else. The lace shawl I just finished required concentrated knitting without distraction. Yea, I still do the puzzles and I still take the occasional (now virtual) Olli or Coursera class. But my hobbies are just as challenging (and occasionally meditative and relaxing)!

 I've been having some real fun exploring meals for one or two. On a forum I belong to the topic came up of the problem of cooking small sized desserts and just took off from there, I still have my three quart slow cooker from my time living alone, and I've been wanting to look at smaller recipes both for sister and I on occasion and also ahead to when I move. Especially small sized desserts and snacks for now. I took a trip down the rabbit hole and checked out the One Dish Kitchen, Homemade in the Kitchen,  and a few other sites. Flourless chocolate cake for two, lasagna for two, stovetop beef stew for two, plus a pile of slow cooker recipes that make two or three servings. I also put some small casserole type pans on my wish list for the new place to facilitate some cooking.  

These mini five inch casserole pans are on my list!

I have to admit this, I miss my people on a regular basis. The small knitting group on Wednesday with deep conversation, the occasional lunch, the once a month dinner at my brother and my sister in law's. I also miss the just going out (at least as much or more, honestly). The day trip every week, an afternoon thrifting, even walking in the mall and people watching. I've made the adjustment, I'm doing okay, better with my new normal than I thought I would.

Thankfully what I am not is bored. As always, I only speak for me, but guess I just don't understand not having enough stuff to do. Yes, I craft and not all my readers craft or do art. But I am here to tell you that on a regular basis there is so very much that goes on in this house other than crafting and art and for six weeks three of us were completely locked down, mainly without boredom.  In the past week around here various people have watched TV series and read (admittedly we all have long reading lists we will probably never plow through), worked on putting up a fence, done some gardening, been working on a thousand piece puzzle, practiced golf moves post surgery/therapy, done cooking and baking and grilling, sorted though old family photos and organized according to side of the family, done minature paper sculpure (paper nano),  taken online classes, worked out, volunteered, walked and played with the dogs and a bunch of things I left out. And yes, I have sewed and knitted.

A regular reader here reads Tarot cards if I recall, does Astrology, volunteers for Meals on Wheels (maybe not now), works out, does Aromatherapy,  creative writing, and yes, also crafts. I'm sure she may remind me of what I've missed.  If this pandemic does nothing else, I hope it shows people that we all need hobbies and interests we an do at home. Some with others, some alone, some relaxing, some challenging.........

Meanwhile, for those who have been around for awhile and remember my previous move, (an end summary of the process here), this move will be entirely different. Partly because this is now a combined household of three, partly because this time I have no one else to drive a truck for me, and partly because many of the items I brought here are not appropriate for my new place of have lived most of their lives. Son can either keep them when he moves next spring, sell or donate. As of now, I am taking my bed, two small and one large dressers, a large wooden bookshelf, one of my two Ikea desks, the pretty white chair and two bakers racks that collapse. Along with the piece of furniture below, which is really a sideboard but will go in my new living room. Right now I'm doing the calculations to see if these and ten large boxes will fit in a pod....................I'll let you know.  

At the same time I'm regularly exploring both Rooms To Go and Nebraska Furniture, as well as all the local buy and sell groups in the north Texas area,  the Denton downtowners Facebook page, the local churches and anything else I can find. It's time to be in the know, about everything I can.

Or at least try.